Collado de las Coronas

Overview

Collado de las Coronas is a Category 3 climb in Spain, running 11.7 km from a start elevation of 1,348 m to a summit at 1,728 m. The net elevation gain across the ascent is 380 m, which sets its official 3.24% average gradient. On paper, that number reads as gentle — a climb you could ride steadily in the big ring. The reality on the road is different.

The gap between the numbers tells the real story. While the net gain is only 380 m, the total ascent recorded over the full profile is 1,140 m. That means roughly 760 m of climbing is cancelled out by descending — this is not a single sustained pull but a rolling, undulating route. You climb, you drop, and you climb again. The effort required is far higher than the tidy 3.24% average suggests, because every descent forces you to re-accelerate and attack the next rise from a lower point.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 3.24% average is an accounting trick of the undulation. Averaged across 11.7 km with 760 m of descent baked in, the true climbing pitches are considerably steeper than the headline figure. Do not pace this climb by its average — pace it by its ramps.

• Flatter and downhill recovery sections where you can regroup and eat or drink.
• Repeated short climbs stacked one after another, each demanding a fresh surge.
• The steepest ramp hits well into double digits — brace for it and do not get caught in too big a gear.

Pacing Notes

On a smooth, consistent climb, even-effort pacing wins. Here, the undulation forces a compromise. Chasing an even speed over the rollers will spike your power on every rise and bury you early. Instead, ride to a target sustainable power output: let your speed climb on the descents and settle back to your ceiling on the ramps, accepting that pace will swing.

The discipline is not overcooking the short pitches. Each rise tempts you to push through — resist it, hold your number, and let the descents pay you back. If you are unsure what wattage you can hold across 11.7 km of surging effort, run the numbers through our FTP estimator before you commit to a plan.

Gearing

Gearing on Coronas is governed by its steepest ramp, not its average. The double-digit maximum pitch means a compact (50/34) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 — to keep your cadence up when the road kicks. The rollers reward a low bailout gear more than they punish a spinny one. Check your setup before the ride; discovering you are over-geared on the first steep ramp is a mistake you cannot fix mid-climb.

Summary

• Length: 11.7 km
• Average gradient: 3.24%
• Net elevation gain: 380 m
• Total ascent: 1,140 m
• Category: 3

Collado de las Coronas is a climb that punishes riders who trust its average. Pace to power, gear for the ramps, and treat the descents as recovery — not as reasons to sprint.